August 2023: Books by Black Authors We Can’t Wait To Read

Summer may be coming to an end, but the books are still coming in hot. Memoirs are everything this August, and one at the top of our list is Viola Ford Fletcher’s “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story,” a powerful first-hand account of the devastating Tulsa Massacre that destroyed one of the most affluent Black communities in the country.

From sci-fi to short stories, August has something for every kind of reader. These are the books by Black authors we can’t wait to get into this month.

“I Have a Dream: 60th Anniversary Edition” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (August 22)

In honor of the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic I Have a Dream speech, HarperOne Group will release a special edition of the famous words he delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. The book includes forewords and an afterword by King’s three surviving children – Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and Dr. Bernice King.

“Plantains and Our Becoming: Poems” by Melania Luisa Marte (August 22)

“Plantains and Our Becoming” is a beautifully-written debut collection from Afro-Latina poet and musician Melania Luisa Marte. In each poem, Marte explores themes of Black identity and culture through the lens of her Dominican heritage. 

“Family Lore” by Elizabeth Acevedo (August 1)

“Family Lore” is bestselling YA poet and author Elizabeth Acevedo’s first novel for grown-ups. The book tells the story of one Dominican-American family through generations of its women as they wait for an event that promises to have life-altering consequences. 

“Dark Days: Fugitive Essays” by Roger Reeves (August 1)

“Dark Days” is a collection of essays from poet Roger Reeves. Part memoir, part cultural criticism, Reeves offers a call for community during these dark days. The peace we fight and search for,” he writes, “begins and ends with being still.”

“Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Massacre in Her Own Words” by Viola Ford Fletcher & Ike Howard (August 15)

In “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story,” Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, recounts her experience living through the devastating event in which white supremacists destroyed a prominent African American community. Readers follow Fletcher from her terrifying childhood experience to the now 109-year-old’s fight for justice for affected families.

“True True” by Don P. Hooper (August 1)

“True True” is a powerful YA novel that follows Gil, a Brooklyn teen trying to fit in at his elite Manhattan prep school. When a fight with a privileged white student leaves only Gil suspended, he sets off a plan to even the score that could cost him everything.

“Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe” by Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins (August 8)

After conquering the music industry and feeding the streets decades worth of thug motivation, “Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe” finds the “Put On” rapper offering life lessons and sharing his deeply personal story in order to inspire you to achieve your own dreams.

“What Never Happened” by Rachel Howzell Hall (August 1)

“What Never Happened” is a gothic thriller by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall. Twenty years after surviving a deadly home invasion, Coco returns to take a job writing obituaries on Catalina Island. But when she discovers a connection between the growing number of elderly people dying on the island, Coco realizes a greater threat could be at play. And when she mysteriously receives her own obituary, Coco fears the worst.

“Witness” by Jamel Brinkley (August 1)

“Witness” is a collection of short stories set in New York City from National Book Award finalist Jamel Brinkley. Each beautifully written story gives readers touching representations of families and friendships.

“Forged by Blood” by Ehigbor Okosun (August 8)

“Forged by Blood” is a coming-of-age epic fantasy novel inspired by the Nigerian folktales of author’s Ehigbok Okosun’s childhood. The story centers around a young woman fighting to survive a tyrannical regime while seeking revenge for her mother’s murder.

“The African Samurai” by Craig Shreve (August 1)

“The African Samurai” is a novel based on the incredible true story of Yasuke, history’s first foreign-born samurai. Kidnapped as a child in Northeast Africa, he served as a bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia. He eventually found his way to Japan, where he learned martial arts from the head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court.

“Holler, Child: Stories” by Latoya Watkins (August 29)

“Holler, Child” is a collection of stories from Latoya Watkins, author of the 2022 critically-acclaimed novel “Perish.” The stories explore themes of love, betrayal and forgiveness and leave you wanting more.

“The Art of Scandal” by Regina Black (August 1)

Summer is almost over, but “The Art of Scandal” is the ultimate beach read. Rachel’s marriage is about to implode when she discovers a sexy text meant for another woman. But her husband Matt has political aspirations and bribes her to keep their issues under wraps until after the election. Rachel is on board with the plan until she meets a handsome artist who makes her question everything.

“The Blue, Beautiful World” by Karen Lord (August 29)

“The Blue, Beautiful World” is the latest from Barbadian author Karen Lord. As a group of scientists and humanitarians on Earth prepare for visitors from beyond, they look for help from an unlikely source – Owen, a pop megastar with a unique hidden talent.

“The Girl in the Yellow Poncho” by Kristal Brent Zook (August 8)

“The Girl in the Yellow Poncho” is journalist Kristal Brent Zook’s memoir about growing up biracial in America. Throughout her story, Zook examines her never-ending quest for love while coping with being abandoned by her white father, growing up with economic insecurity and generational substance abuse issues.

“A Place of Our Own” by Joshunda Sanders (August 22)

“A Place of Our Own” is a story for kids ages 5 - 8 about the importance of making your voice heard. The book follows eight-year-old aspiring journalist Ava Murray who wants to change the public’s perception of her Bronx neighborhood. When she learns that a new park could be coming to the area, Ava takes her impassioned plea for green grass and a safe place for kids to play to the city council meeting.